snoflake15

Air was ultimately a fairly tame ride. I would be a bit concerned about motion sickness but if that's not an issue then I think it would be an improvement.

Apologies if I've missed this on the thread but is there a predicted re-opening date? Going there in May and wondering if any chance of this being open again.

Head home on 20th May. Will be gutted if I just miss it opening.

^ didn't ride it on Friday. Had to be selective with my picks as I didn't want to abandon the wife and kids too much. After your post I'm now regretting my decision not to ride it again. It really is great fun.

The Grand National has an historic significance and so does the Big Dipper. It's one thing making over a woodie built in the last 30 years or so and another ripping up pieces of history. As it happens rollercoaster would have been my vote for a makeover. But that's already happened. GN was being painted so I couldn't ride it last week. It looks pretty tired to be fair but I would still be sad to see it go. How about a RMC of the Wild Mouse?

^ interesting concept. Don't see it but you never know.....

Wee trip report. Went on Friday with wife (non coaster fan) and four year old and just under one year old. Weather was great and lines were short. Went on Big One for first time in a while. Still all about the first drop. Also went on Nick Streak which was a big improvement on Rollercoaster imo. Had my first shot on Valhalla. Arguably best dark/wet ride I've been on. But boy do you get wet!!! The day was mostly about my four year old. Nickelodeonland is great. He rode everything he could in there. Was a bit unsure about the Blue Flyer but went on it again. He also braved his first log flume and the froghopper/mini drop ride. I was very proud of him. He also enjoyed the Wallace and Gromit ride. Nick Land improves BPB immeasurably. It has brightened up the park no end and is great for young kids. The park still needs some general TLC but is definitely going in the right direction. I had a great day. Even had a wee shot on Ice Blast before I left. Still love it.

Planning on visiting for first time next week. How are the food establishments?

The Pretzel Loop on Tatsu that seemed to just go on for ever.

It's such a shame, too. The US media did it to SeaWorld and now the Brits are doing it to Alton Towers. It just amazes me the world we live in today where a "headline" and shock news reporting is waaaaaaay more important than people actually having a good time. The British media love a bandwagon to jump on. This Sonic incident would never have seen the light of cyberspace a couple of months ago.

^ was about to post the same. Really sad. The fact it's taken so long to happen almost seems worse. Must have had an awful time of it.

I will eventually brave Space for the credit. Was going to take my boy on the mine train but he didn't fancy it! I was actually back on Saturday. I had another close look at Tornado and decided against it again. The strained expressions of the riders acted as a warning!

^thanks again. Will hold off the trips there as late as possible and hope for the best!

^ did any of those rides have soft openings earlier than that?

^ and ^^ thanks although not the answer I was hoping for. I fear I may just miss out on both.

When they say "summer 2016" for Mako can anyone give an idea of when it may open? I'm planning to visit Florida late April and would be devastated to see it almost ready but being unable to ride it. Same with Cobras Curse.

^sounds like more Sky News over dramatisation to me. The source is simply a lawyer for the families. Why would AT tell him anything? And the word 'disaster' used again. Tragic accident for those involved but "disaster"? Not my definition of the word.

^they're seriously rough. Even with the complete lack of coasters in this country I still avoided Tornado. It looks like a drunk angry man on a Saturday night that just wants to hurt you. A lot. And Space looks like Tornado without the loops. Only coaster I'd ride is Tsunami.

If there was a poll "would you ever buy the mirror?" then I would be a no.

Visited the park today. Day off work so took my wee boy (4). Lines were pretty much non existent. Only some school trips to bolster numbers. Took my boy on all the kiddie rides including the kiddie coaster. He wanted to go on the raft rides. Thought he might be too small but he was insistent. Got him up to top of stairs and about to climb in to the raft when his bottle crashed and off we trotted back down the stairs. He also didn't fancy the log flume. I went on the invert, Tsunami. Sat in back row. Pretty rough but even a crap invert is good in my books! Only needed a couple of hours to do all we needed. Always disappoints me that Scotland can't have a better theme park.

Can understand the logic behind a name change. Will take a bit of work to re-do the theme as it was pretty detailed. As was also mentioned it will be interesting to see if this delays the hype around SW8.

May have struggled to get down to AT this year in any case but will probably wait now until SW7 and SW8 are both available to ride.

Front page of Mail on Sunday calling it "the Alton Towers Disaster". Don't know whether or is more appropriate.

Sounds like Leah is improving well. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-33075059

^ I doubt the trains were designed with the possibility of a high speed collision. I doubt many trains are in any park. The rides are designed to avoid this happening.